Application of a New Method for Crop Yield Forecasting in Tanzania.

In-season crop yield forecasting has been studied for decades. Field surveys, crop simulation models, statistical models and remote sensing techniques, and combinations of the methods are found in the yield forecasting methodology literature. We propose a new method for in-season forecast of corn yield in Tanzania based on a previously validated crop simulation model, field surveys and remote sensed data. The methodology is used by the Government of Tanzania (GOT) to forecast crop yield one month before the harvest. The methodology is currently being validated by FAO and GOT for the regions of Morogoro and Dodoma. Advanced knowledge on estimated food production is critical for food security assessment at the national level.